Effect of Lead (Pb) on the Growth and Development of Two Varieties of Vigna Unguiculata (Cowpea) in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria

PROPOSED TOPIC:                                         Effect of Lead (Pb) on the growth and development of two varieties of vigna unguiculata (cowpea) in Jere Local Government Area Borno State, Nigeria

NAME                                                           Emmanuel Bwala THLAMA

REGISTRATION NUMBER:                        PGA/13/09/02/07777

DEGREE IN VIEW:                                          M.Sc. Arid Zone Ecology

SUPERVISOR:                                                    Prof. Mohammad Saquib

DEPARTMENT:                                                 Biological Sciences

TITLE CASE

INTRODUCTION

Lead (Pb) is one of the major heavy metals of the antiquity which has gained considerable importance as a potent environmental pollutant. Apart from the natural weathering processes, Pb contamination of the environment has resulted from mining and smelting activities, Pb containing paints, gasoline and explosives as well as from the disposal of municipal sewage sludges rich in Pb. Despite regulatory measures adopted in many countries to limit Pb input in the environment, it continues to be one of the most serious global environmental and human hazards. As many of lead pollutants are indispensible for modern human life, soil contamination with Pb is not likely to decrease in the near future.

Statement of the Problem                                                                                                                                                                                    Difficulty in obtaining selected seeds every year and storage of seeds as well as poorgermination and death of young seedlings in natural habitats do not always permit adequate production of desirable selected seedlings for replanting. However, increase in human consumption for food and economic benefit has been identified as major constraints.          

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are to:                                                                                                                                                                                     i. find out the tolerance level of cowpea under t stress of lead.

ii. Determine which variety of cowpea is susceptible and which variety is resistant to lead.

iii. Determine the lead phytoextraction efficiency in two varieties of cowpea.

Significance of the study

The study will help understand the effect of lead (Pb) on the growth and development of two varieties of vigna unguiculata (cowpea) in Jere LGA and help farmers in choosing which of two (2) cowpea variety IT 89 KD-288 and IT 89 KD-391 is suitable for farming because of its high yields for food, commercial purposes.

Scope of the study                                                                                                                                                                                                             The study will be limited to controled pot field work and laboratory analysis of two different varieties of cowpea seed in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Soil Science Laboratories, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY                                                                                                                                                                                          Dry seeds of two varieties of Cowpea (vigna unguiculata) (IT 89 KD-288 and IT 89 KD-391) will be collected from the Borno State Agricultural Development Programme (BOSAP) Maiduguri, the metal salt used is lead nitrate. The lead will be collected from Biological Sciences Laboratory, University of Maiduguri. The Seeds will be washed thoroughly before sawing in the field which will be observed until the plants are fully matured. Four doses (0, 10, 20, 40, 50mg/kg soil) of lead will be applied separately in pots containing 4kg soil. The treatments will be given at 10 and 40 days after sowing and observation will be taken at pre-flowering, flowering and post flowering stages. Morphological, Reproductive, Biochemical, Heavy metal levels and soil parameters will be taken.                                           

The data collected would be statistically analyzed for one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in each Experiment. Standard deviation and least significance difference would be determined using the SPSS statistical program (ver. 12.0 Inc., Chicago, USA). Least significant difference (LSD) would be calculated for the significance at p < 0.05.

Expected Outcome

Successful application of this research can result in better quality plants which can assist the farmers to make good choice of seeds that has resistance to lead, especially those lead affected areas.

Plants that survive are tolerant to lead while those that did not survive will show slight abscission and browning of root system.

Productivity of beans affected by the Pb stress and those that are not affected, along with the protein content will be revealed.

Examined the differences which of lead stress part of plants is affected in roots, shoots, buds, flowers, pods and seed under different concentrations of Pb.